Travel reviews by Family G from Oxordshire
Review Distribution
Total number of trips
2
Countries visited
4
Lodges stayed in
15
Excursions taken
0
Our favourite holiday - ever!
Namibia and 1 other country between 13 Jul 2014 and 31 Jul 2014
"We have done many long haul trips and we've been to some amazing countries, but this holiday was the best of the lot!
Sabina had made the perfect itinerary for what we wanted and I would hardly have changed anything - just one extra day at Corona Guest Farm would have been good. There were a few highlights - a hot air balloon trip over the desert with a champagne breakfast whilst at the beautiful Kulala Desert Lodge/ Corona Guest Farm as an overall wonderful stay and. of course, the privilege of staying with Arno and Estelle at Nhoma and experiencing the lives of the Bushmen."
Sabina had made the perfect itinerary for what we wanted and I would hardly have changed anything - just one extra day at Corona Guest Farm would have been good. There were a few highlights - a hot air balloon trip over the desert with a champagne breakfast whilst at the beautiful Kulala Desert Lodge/ Corona Guest Farm as an overall wonderful stay and. of course, the privilege of staying with Arno and Estelle at Nhoma and experiencing the lives of the Bushmen."
Arranged By Sabina Hekandjo
Olive Grove
"Olive Grove was delightful"
1 night
Arrived
14 Jul 2014
"Very warm welcome from manager. Rooms well appointed. Good food."
Excellent
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location
Excellent
Service
Excellent
Facilities
Excellent
Rooms
Excellent
Food
Excellent
Kulala Desert Lodge
"Kulala Desert Lodge is amazing"
2 nights
Arrived
15 Jul 2014
"This camp is amazing. It is set in the middle of nowhere but with the most stunning scenery and the camp itself is beautiful.
The staff were excellent and couldn't have been more helpful and the food was great."
The staff were excellent and couldn't have been more helpful and the food was great."
Excellent
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location
Excellent
Service
Excellent
Activities
Excellent
Rooms
Excellent
Food
Excellent
Facilities
Excellent
Corona Guest Farm
"Corona Guest Farm - unusual but fantastic!"
1 night
Arrived
17 Jul 2014
"This farm was like stepping back in to the 1950s. It was our favourite stay over the whole holiday and my daughter is desperate to go back. I would certainly have liked to stay here for two nights rather than one.
It is surrounded by the most beautiful mountains and is a very long way from anywhere. We had a great evening walk just as the sun was setting. The food was absolutely fantastic and the owner was great. It was the most perfect retreat."
It is surrounded by the most beautiful mountains and is a very long way from anywhere. We had a great evening walk just as the sun was setting. The food was absolutely fantastic and the owner was great. It was the most perfect retreat."
Excellent
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location
Excellent
Service
Excellent
Activities
Excellent
Rooms
Excellent
Food
Excellent
Facilities
Excellent
Okonjima Plains Camp
"Okonjima is beautful but lacking character"
1 night
Arrived
18 Jul 2014
"Although the rooms are stunning and the view from the bedroom window amazing, the overall feel of the camp is slightly cold and characterless. The staff are not very helpful and seem disinterested. It has a factory like feel to it."
Good
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Good
Location
Excellent
Service
Average
Facilities
Good
Rooms
Excellent
Food
Average
Anderssons Camp, Namibia (this camp has since closed)
"Anderssons Camp is"
1 night
Arrived
19 Jul 2014
"The tents are slightly basic, but the tin bath was an absolute triumph! The staff fall over themselves to be helpful and hot water bottles in the beds are fantastic! The restaurant is great and the food lovely."
Excellent
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location
Excellent
Service
Excellent
Facilities
Excellent
Rooms
Good
Food
Excellent
Not currently featured by Expert Africa
Mushara Lodge
"Mushara is stunning but 'cold' in feel"
2 nights
Arrived
20 Jul 2014
"The lodge is beautifully designed and the rooms are amazing. There is an incredible amount of detail gone in to the look of everything. Having said that, it is lacking in character. The staff all seem to walk around on tiptoe and whisper to each other. It has a melancholy feel to it."
Good
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Good
Location
Excellent
Service
Average
Facilities
Excellent
Rooms
Excellent
Food
Good
Nhoma Camp
"Nhoma - there is no experience like it!"
3 nights
Arrived
22 Jul 2014
"Spending three days with Arno and Estelle at Nhoma Camp is something we will never forget!
They are both full of information, which they are more than happy to share sitting around the camp fire at night and driving around the area. It was a privilege to stay in the camp and to experience the lives of the Bushmen. Three days was just right - anything shorter wouldn't have been long enough.
We would love to go back."
They are both full of information, which they are more than happy to share sitting around the camp fire at night and driving around the area. It was a privilege to stay in the camp and to experience the lives of the Bushmen. Three days was just right - anything shorter wouldn't have been long enough.
We would love to go back."
Excellent
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location
Excellent
Service
Excellent
Activities
Excellent
Rooms
Excellent
Food
Excellent
Facilities
Excellent
Hakusembe River Lodge
"Hakusembe is delightful"
1 night
Arrived
25 Jul 2014
"This was a perfect camp to come to after the three days at Nhoma - it felt very luxurious!.
The rooms were great and sitting on the deck overlooking the Okavango River at sunset was perfect. Staff all good."
The rooms were great and sitting on the deck overlooking the Okavango River at sunset was perfect. Staff all good."
Excellent
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location
Excellent
Service
Excellent
Facilities
Excellent
Rooms
Excellent
Food
Excellent
Ndhovu Safari Lodge
"Ndhovu is in a good location"
1 night
Arrived
26 Jul 2014
"This was probably my least favourite camp, mainly because the tents need upgrading and it all felt a bit run down - locks were broken and so our daughter had to sleep with me rather than sleeping in a tent that she couldn't lock.
Torches weren't provided even though the tents were a couple of metres from the river (nor hot water bottles and it was freezing cold at night!). The staff were good and the river cruise at sunset was really good."
Torches weren't provided even though the tents were a couple of metres from the river (nor hot water bottles and it was freezing cold at night!). The staff were good and the river cruise at sunset was really good."
Good
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Good
Location
Excellent
Service
Good
Activities
Excellent
Rooms
Poor
Food
Good
Facilities
Good
Mazambala Island Lodge, Namibia (this camp has since closed)
"Mazambala is set in beautiful surroundings"
1 night
Arrived
27 Jul 2014
"A great camp with a very attentive owner. Rooms are a bit basic and the tiled floors are freezing cold but the communal areas of the camp are really nice.
Food really good. Great river cruise."
Food really good. Great river cruise."
Excellent
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location
Excellent
Service
Excellent
Activities
Excellent
Rooms
Average
Food
Excellent
Facilities
Excellent
Not currently featured by Expert Africa
Avani Victoria Falls
"Zambezi Sun is perfect for the Falls"
2 nights
Arrived
28 Jul 2014
"A great hotel if all you want to see is the Falls - which we did. We spent our evenings at The Royal Livingstone as it had a more gentle feel to it.
The staff at the Zambezi Sun are really good and the buffet breakfast is great. Being only a few minutes walk from the Falls was the best thing though."
The staff at the Zambezi Sun are really good and the buffet breakfast is great. Being only a few minutes walk from the Falls was the best thing though."
Excellent
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location
Excellent
Service
Excellent
Activities
Excellent
Rooms
Good
Food
Excellent
Facilities
Excellent
A fantastic holiday
Tanzania and 1 other country between 14 Jul 2008 and 29 Jul 2008
"We couldn't have asked for a better holiday - both on safari and in Zanzibar.
Suggestions for improvement:
If only Expert Africa dealt with the rest of the world!
It was a pleasure to deal with Eleanor and her knowledge of all aspects of our holiday was spot on. Every single transfer went to plan, all on time, and the accommodation at all the venues was exactly as she had described it to me.
It was Eleanor's suggestion for us to spend 3 days in Ruaha and we wouldn't have missed it for anything.
Thank you."
Suggestions for improvement:
If only Expert Africa dealt with the rest of the world!
It was a pleasure to deal with Eleanor and her knowledge of all aspects of our holiday was spot on. Every single transfer went to plan, all on time, and the accommodation at all the venues was exactly as she had described it to me.
It was Eleanor's suggestion for us to spend 3 days in Ruaha and we wouldn't have missed it for anything.
Thank you."
Impala Camp
"Fantastic Safari at Selous Impala Camp"
4 nights
Arrived
15 Jul 2008
"It was a beautiful camp with the most wonderful staff.
The food was excellent - a rare treat for us as we're all vegetarian.
The guides were extremely informative and interesting and good company on all the game drives/ boat safaris.We saw a huge variety of animals/ birds, far more than I expected.
The tents were comfortable with great views. Nothing seemed too much trouble for any of the staff. We would all love to go back!"
The food was excellent - a rare treat for us as we're all vegetarian.
The guides were extremely informative and interesting and good company on all the game drives/ boat safaris.We saw a huge variety of animals/ birds, far more than I expected.
The tents were comfortable with great views. Nothing seemed too much trouble for any of the staff. We would all love to go back!"
Excellent
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location
Excellent
Service
Excellent
Activities
Excellent
Rooms
Excellent
Food
Excellent
Facilities
Excellent
Mdonya Old River Camp
"Great Safari at Mdonya Old River Camp"
3 nights
Arrived
19 Jul 2008
"We adored the camp as it was so remote. Our tent was a fair way from anyone else and we had loads of animals walking past as we were on the ede of the old river bed.
The staff were excellent and we particularly enjoyed evenings round the camp fire and early morning breakfast.
Our safari guide, Giovanni, was incredible - there didn't seem to be anythiing he didn't know about the animal/ bird population. We had some great drives, with Giovanni and Roland, which all included picnic meals at some fantastic locations."
The staff were excellent and we particularly enjoyed evenings round the camp fire and early morning breakfast.
Our safari guide, Giovanni, was incredible - there didn't seem to be anythiing he didn't know about the animal/ bird population. We had some great drives, with Giovanni and Roland, which all included picnic meals at some fantastic locations."
Excellent
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location
Excellent
Service
Excellent
Activities
Excellent
Rooms
Excellent
Food
Good
Facilities
Excellent
Shooting Star Lodge
"On the beach at Shooting Star"
5 nights
Arrived
22 Jul 2008
"This was just what we wanted as we weren't looking for a big international hotel, but wanted something more in keeping with the surrounding area.
The rooms (cottages) were absolutely beautiful, with stunning views over the Indian Ocean (from large private terraces).
Trips were available and easy to book and were all great - we did the spice tour and Jozani Forest."
The rooms (cottages) were absolutely beautiful, with stunning views over the Indian Ocean (from large private terraces).
Trips were available and easy to book and were all great - we did the spice tour and Jozani Forest."
Excellent
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location
Excellent
Service
Good
Activities
Excellent
Rooms
Excellent
Food
Good
Facilities
Excellent
Zanzibar Palace Hotel
"Zanzibar Palace Hotel"
2 nights
Arrived
27 Jul 2008
"We all loved this hotel as it was exactly what we were looking for.
The rooms and bathrooms were beautiful, decorated in Arabic style.
The staff were excellent and full of information about the local area, including booking us a local guide who took us around the whole of Stone Town.
We didn't eat here as we wanted to sample local food in town, but breakfast was great."
The rooms and bathrooms were beautiful, decorated in Arabic style.
The staff were excellent and full of information about the local area, including booking us a local guide who took us around the whole of Stone Town.
We didn't eat here as we wanted to sample local food in town, but breakfast was great."
Excellent
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location
Excellent
Service
Excellent
Facilities
Excellent
Rooms
Excellent
Activities
Excellent